MISTY CLIFFS VILLAGE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER - January 2009
Editor: Tim Anderson

FIRE SEASON

We all dread bush fires, and we get more and more apprehensive as the grass grows longer and the weather gets dryer and the Cape Doctor blasts across our properties searching for a burning twig or someone's glowing stompie to airlift into making mischief.

The risk won't get less but your committee can and is doing a lot of things to cope better and quicker with fires. We are now liaising routinely with the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), both of which fall under SANParks and are effectively and enthusiastically managed. A number of our residents have volunteered for VWS and by the time you read this may have had their first taste of training. Great emphasis in the training is put on to understanding and operating the communications system used because clarity about this ensures that all the cooks in the kitchen are in synch (no, not the sink) and not wasting time - a few minutes of confusion or misunderstanding can allow a manageable fire to become UN-manageable.

"Training", by the way, doesn't mean putting on a brass helmet and heroically dashing up the fiery mountain to save the lovely princess trapped inside the blazing castle. It means dull things like learning how to roll out a hose without twisting it, knowing how to connect it to a hydrant (and knowing where the hydrants are), learning what the various bits of Fire Brigade equipment are properly called, knowing how to help monitor and report fire progress, knowing, for your likely operating area, where and how you can best make and get refreshments to the firemen. The young and fit may volunteer to do the more rugged stuff and will be appropriately briefed and equipped with gear by VWS, but the logistical and back-up work is no less important. There will be occasional rehearsals to iron out potential glitches so that come a real emergency everyone's ready to shift straight into top gear. We will be liaising with the residents' group in Scarborough and probably also the one in Kommetjie.

We are moving towards acquiring some basic equipment to store at Misty Cliffs with the primary function of being able to wet-down vegetation in the path of an advancing fire before the professional fire-fighters arrive. Several of our residents due for training will then be able to speedily access our own fire hoses and know how to connect and use them properly should there be a fire threat. As you know, we have already instituted the emergency SMS service which is intended mainly to alert owners to fire dangers, baboon raids and Martian landings. The system will integrate seamlessly to the VWS/SANParks coms system during a fire situation.

Although unfortunately our area is officially designated as a relatively low fire risk we were very lucky recently in having had a reasonable firebreak cleared around our mountainside properties even though that wasn't initially scheduled. We remind you that firebreaks are not intended to stop a fire, although they might if there's no wind. Their purpose is mainly to give access to fire-fighters for wetting vegetation, starting a back-burn, reaching a threatened building, and evacuating endangered people. You might note too that debris from clearing a firebreak does not have to be taken off site (which would be unacceptably expensive) but is normally moved a stipulated distance away from the break where it will eventually burn or rot away.

Our previous Newsletter mentioned that the post-fire grant from Province of R500 for each residence burnt down early last year in the Redhill informal settlement had not been paid out. We're pleased now to say that the grants were subsequently paid, in November.

BABOONS

To our amazement Misty Cliffs did not suffer any raids over the long holiday period - so far as we've heard. The monitors did a fantastic job in keeping most of the animals most of the time in the Reserve, although there was some sporadic raiding in Scarborough. We feel that the R5 000 that the MCVA donated for outfitting the monitors was well-spent as both a practical need and as an incentive. Our good luck does not signal an end to the problem, a solution for which we are steadily moving towards, especially in the vexed matter of getting the major participant parties in the fund-raising to co-operate smoothly on the basis of a realistic financial management system. Given that, and given confidence in continuity of funding, there will be more job-security for monitors and they will develop more insights, skills and motivation in dealing with baboons.

SNAKES

It's not for nothing that part of our nearby mountain is named Slangkop, judging by reports this summer, with puff adders having been found basking on at least two Misty decks, two others next to pools, and still others seen disconcertingly close to houses. The impression is that this year there are more around than usual. Someone was bitten, and two dogs were killed by puff adders in Kommetjie. Cape Cobras (not the cricketers) are also around but the puff adders are potentially much more dangerous because unlike most other snakes they don't move out of the way when people approach; it is quite easy to step right onto one, and the creature's reaction can be deadly because the puff adder belies its apparent laziness by its lightning strike speed. There is no anti-venom for puff adders, and bite victims must be got to a hospital at top speed.

Even if you get the horrors when you find a snake, that's no reason to kill them; they're part of the natural system and they feed on vermin as well as on Greg Shaw's chickens. There is also a King Snake en route to Heaven (and the Queen Snake is on the way to the other place) and they each keep a log book of snake murderers. If you find a snake on your property and you don't fancy keeping it as a cuddly pet you can call the nearby Imhoff Snake Park. Sean Bodington works there and is an experienced catcher. And by the way, you needn't worry about the sometimes scarily large blackish mole snakes which are non-poisonous and mostly mind their own business. Prevention is always better than cure, however, so look where you're going when you're walking in the bush or gardening on your property. Garden in gumboots, and if you go walking in hiking boots be sure to wear long pants, preferably the baggy-legged style. Keep your eyes on where children may be wandering or playing, so often barefooted, on neighbouring plots or in the kloof.

If someone is bitten by a snake the absolute priority is to get them to a hospital really fast, but it's also important to stabilise the victim with first aid treatment while waiting for help or enduring the journey. False Bay is the nearest hospital, but Constantiaberg is said to be better equipped. There is first aid available at the Snake Park. If there's no one on hand to convey the victim then either send for an ambulance or (maybe much quicker) have Scarborough Security rush the victim to hospital. Cape Medical Response (CMR) keeps a well-equipped ambulance and para-medics on standby in Fish Hoek, but bear in mind that it/they may already be attending to another call. You can subscribe to the service for about R65/m which seems good value as they will then respond to any other trauma or medical emergency.

Imhoff Snake Park: 083-643-3103.
Snake catcher, Sean Bodington: 083-244-5194.
Cape Medical Response (to join): 021-782-0333.
Scarborough Security: 021-780-1274.

OUR OWL PROJECT

Three more young Spotted Eagle Owls were acquired recently; one died from unknown causes but the other two did well and seem to have been successfully released. The project will continue, but we should not expect Misty Cliffs to become teeming with owls. The idea is to help repopulate our whole end of the Peninsula and thus improve the general ecological balance. After release the owls do hang around our area but then they begin to find their own territories. Nevertheless, there are more around than one might suppose; the thing is that they are nocturnal so one has to go searching for them at dusk or early dawn - or maybe at 02h00 if you're an insomniac. Thank you to the Turners (I think) for some super pictures; pity we couldn't use them all.

MISTY'S VERY OWN OTTERS

The Cape Clawless Otters have become much bolder since the departure of certain poorly controlled dogs and it's quite easy to spot them frolicking in the surf. This is a really very good sign of environmental health. Well done to the Williams family for supplying us with some lovely pictures.

SHARKS

We're really onto animals in this issue, aren't we? Did you know that Cape Town's shark spotting programme is unique and not only makes an important contribution to recreational safety but also usefully profiles our city internationally? Between 2004 and 2007 there were 483 shark sightings at the "spotter-covered" beaches in our area. The total for 2008 seems to have been much lower than usual for so-far unknown reasons. This reduction will be one of the aspects of white shark research to be studied by Alison Kock, a marine biologist from the Save Our Seas Shark Centre, who has been formally appointed by the City to research new developments in shark safety technology.
The programme has recently been put under the management of the Kommetjie Environmental Awareness Group (KEAG), a nearby non-profit organisation with more than 18 years experience in environmental project management.

Shark spotters are on duty every day from 08h00 to 18h45 for Muizenberg corner, St James, Fish Hoek, and Noordhoek (The Hoek). Also over weekends, school holidays and public holidays from 08h00 to 16h00 for Clovelly and to 19h00 for Glencairn.

For more information you can call Alison on 072-661-9516, or Wally Petersen of KEAG on 076-859-3633. Check out also www.sharkspotters.org.za and www.saveourseas.com

PARTY TIME

As we've now come to expect, the year-end party was a roaring success, with an amazing spread of yummy food to help get folk in training for further feasting later in the month. For those who weren't there, just look at the fantastic spread in our picture, then go and mark the next Misty party date in your 2009 diaries. We are very appreciative and grateful for the venue, riskily made available by Tim and Jacqui Parsonson, and of course to the victualing team of Lyn Mossop, Jacqui herself, Maureen Morris and Barbara Tunbridge. We were particularly pleased to welcome Jenni Thethowan and Doug Euston-Brown from Scarborough, as well as Mike and Karen Bekker from Scarborough Security Services. Your scribe had run away to Australia so wasn't at the event and may have omitted thanks to some other people who helped the show to go so well; if so, mea culpa and apologies.

PARALYSIS; SNAFU AS USUAL

Previous newsletters have mentioned a number of developments and issues of considerable concern to all of us, most of them involving legal and/or official tortoising, but the traditional inertia of the lengthy holiday season has left us with nothing new to report. Hopefully things are getting moving again and this may bring us some progress and resolution before long.

SEWAGE - YUK!

It has come to light or, rather, nose, that architects designing sewage disposal for Misty Cliffs houses do not always provide sufficient detail for builders to follow, and/or do not take sufficient account of the particular requirements dictated by the nature of our terrain. One recent plan had no detail at all and merely stated that the building's sewerage should be connected to the municipal sewerage main according to regulations. That the architect appeared not to know that Misty Cliffs doesn't have water-born sewerage at all made us wonder if he'd ever even visited the site. Aggravating the problem is the dire shortage of building inspectors which can mean that builders may resort to their own discretion in constructing septic tank and soak-away works, and after a year or so a system as built may prove to be inadequate - and exceedingly difficult and costly to rectify. We suggest that owners should nail their architects to ensure that sewage disposal arrangements are appropriate for the local circumstances and fully specified and detailed on the plans; further, that their architects must inspect whatever the contractor builds before the works are filled-in and covered over.

GINORMOUS TRUCKS

A number of our owners have expressed concern about large delivery vehicles and such behemoths as ready-mixed concrete trucks possibly damaging Old Camp Road. Builders have protested that the only option would be to have numerous smaller deliveries, which suppliers would probably refuse to make, and on-site mixing of mass concrete which would be hideously expensive and environmentally damaging.

Be reassured: The road has been built to municipal specifications and since its completion has been a municipal road under municipal management. There is no specification limiting the size or axle loading of vehicles using the road, the applicable regulation essentially states only that operators should ensure that vehicles should be of appropriate capability and in sound condition.

To date we have not noticed any sign of subsidence from the use of heavy vehicles. However, it is very difficult to avoid a certain amount of damage to kerbs, and damage to paving blocks from crushed stone spilt off trucks, and/or spilt concrete and paint on the blocks. Less obvious damage is caused when builders flush sand and slurry down gutters because it accumulates and hardens in the catchpits and can result in flooding during storms; it is difficult and costly to get this hardened material out once the builder has left the site! All this is why your association requires a building deposit specifically intended to cover road/environmental repair work during or after completion of the building. The deposit should not be confused with nor form part of whatever ordinary retention sum is in the contract, thereby encouraging builders to exercise care and to understand that they are liable for repairs to the road and its affected environment whether caused by themselves or by deliveries or sub-contractors.

CRIME WATCH!

According to Scarborough Security Services (SSS) and Scarborough Neighbourhood Watch there was no reported crime in Misty Cliffs over the holiday season, and only relatively minor break-ins in Scarborough. The reason for this inactivity is ascribed to the crayfish season providing a more remunerative activity for felons!

However, we've recently received a formal warning from the SAPS that criminals in our general area have adopted the technique of placing stones in the road to stop cars. If you're confronted by such an obstruction you should immediately turn around and go back, then call 10111 as soon as possible. Always keep your car doors locked and windows up!!

Two other warnings have been issued, however: First, a number of owners let their houses to visiting foreigners, some of whom come from faraway lands where crime is not of much concern. Such visitors need to be seriously drilled in not leaving doors unlocked and windows open when they leave the house or fall asleep while basking on the deck. If felons don't break in then our furry cousins may, which can be even worse. Second, if your house is on a slope it is particularly easy for break-ins to be effected from the back; that's where windows and other openings need particular fortification.

SSS have instituted a useful service of recording where there have been baboon and crime incidents on a map which may be accessed via Google Earth; follow links until you find the SSS site.

WATER

Despite the excellent winter rainfall and the new Berg River dam being full, water resources are already a couple of per cent below the previous year's level. South Peninsula reservoirs at best have less than marginal capacity for local needs, and these can be sharply depleted by fire fire-fighting. The City has appealed to us to keep pools covered to minimise evaporation, desist from watering between 10h00 and 16h00, use plenty of mulch in gardens, catch and reuse bath and sink water, and not use hoses for washing cars and driveways.

DUMPING YOUR COMMITTEE

Please diarize the morning of Sunday 26 April for the MCVA agm in the Scarborough community hall (lekker refreshments as usual). As the IEC advert on TV puts it, if you don't come and vote you can't complain. You also can't vote if you're not up to date with your subscription payments. Complaints can lead to more useful action than congrat's, so please don't stay away, especially if you think you might make some input about the likely 12 per cent increase in subscriptions. Also greatly needed are nominations for new and wildly enthusiastic committee members - the Old Guard may be getting stale.

CONTACTS

Subscriptions: Greg Shaw ( ) and Tony Turner ( ).
Newsletter: Tim Anderson (072-128-2319).
Snakes (other than committee members): see under "Snakes" in this newsletter.
Bees, removal of: Ben Col Bee Removers (021-780-9183).
Baboons: Baboon Matters, Jeni Trethowan (084-413-9482, 021-782-2015).
Vets for wild animals (NOT PETS!): Dr Oertle (082-731-4774), Dr Alright (082-789-2969).